Dimension Films has acquired the rights to Torso, a live-action film based on the comic series chronicling the true story of Elliot Ness and his pursuit of America's first known serial killer. The live-action movie will be produced by Todd McFarlane.

The Miramax genre division has acquired the rights to the series, penned by Sam & Twitch writer Brian Michael Bendis and Marc Andreyko, who will now write a screenplay for Dimension based on their comic. Dimension is planning to position Torso as a de facto sequel to Brian De Palma's The Untouchables.

Torso is based on true events in the life of lawman Ness after his victory in Chicago over Al Capone. Torso takes up where Untouchables left off. Ness moves to Cleveland and embarks on a crusade to solve the dozen "Torso" murders, in which a killer so dreadfully mutilated his victims that their bodies were unidentifiable. Dimension VP Michael Zoumas and director of production David Jordan will oversee the project for the studio, along with Dimension president Cary Granat. Todd McFarlane and Terry Fitzgerald, president of Todd McFarlane Entertainment, will produce.